Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: winter 2014 edition

You don't need to cast bones or read entrails to know that smartphones arrive in predictable cycles. February, home of Mobile World Congress, is likely to see the launch of new handsets from heavy hitters like HTC, Samsung and LG. Those new flagships will rule the mobile hill until the fall, when Apple and Google are likely to wheel out next-gen devices of their own. Sony, meanwhile, recently launched its latest handset, the Z1 Compact, which reverses the "bigger is better" trend to great effect.

There may have only been one top-tier phone launching in January, but the phone industry has hardly been hibernating this winter. Two years after Google bought Motorola for $12.5 billion, it sold the rejuvenated handset maker to Lenovo. AT&T, meanwhile, has rejigged its mobile share plans to shrink your monthly data bill; T-Mobile will now pay you to leave your carrier; and we're inching ever closer to a Sprint/T-Mobile merger, the FCC permitting. If you're already on the hunt for a new smartphone, or your deal's only for a few more months left and you like to be prepared, this is your guide to the best handsets on the market.

Android

HTC's 2013-era flagship is due for a revamp, and we're certain that the gods of irony will ensure that, as soon as we've published this guide, the smartphone currently codenamed as "M8" will officially arrive. In the meantime, however, the HTC One remains a handset that we're happy to recommend. Combining jaw-dropping unibody aluminum design, powerful BoomSound speakers and an IR blaster, it's as at home in front of your TV as on the road. The quick performance and general polish of both hardware and software mean that it hasn't shown its age, and the UltraPixel camera is perfect for low-light shooting. Hopefully the arrival of the One's replacement will help knock the price down, so we'd suggest keeping your eyes peeled for a bargain in the next few weeks.

Bottom line: Good hardware, good software and some innovative little touches put the HTC One ahead of the Android pack, even though it's now several months older than many of the other phones on this list.

Since our last guide, the Motorola Moto X went on sale in Europe as an off-the-shelf retail option, and the company went from being Google's plaything to becoming part of Lenovo. The news of the purchase shouldn't distract you, however, as the handset is still reasonably new, with much to recommend it. In the US, customization is the name of the game, with the ability to choose colors on the front, back and accent pieces. There's even an optional wood finish. It may not appeal to those who judge a phone's performance on its spec sheet, but Motorola (and Google) worked hard to ensure there are some neat tricks under the hood. For example, you just need to say "OK Google" at the device for it to activate and offer up its voice search prowess. Then there's the Active Display, which will show you your notifications if it feels you holding the handset toward your face.

Bottom line: Rather than cramming in ultra-fast internals, Motorola's tried to make the phone especially intuitive to use, with Active Display and touchless controls. Oh, and it's assembled in the USA, which might tug at your patriotic heartstrings.

When Samsung presented the idea of a smartphone with a display larger than five inches, we were more than a little skeptical. The Galaxy Note's surprise success, however, has forged a trend where colossal devices are now the rule, not the exception. For the Galaxy Note 3, Samsung took everything we loved about its predecessors and turned them up to 11. Instead of mildly useful note-taking, the company has ensured that the S Pen stylus now serves a deeper purpose. It also offers whip-smart performance and a battery that'll last close to two days with normal usage. The only downside is that you'll still look a bit silly using one as a phone, but let's be honest: Who uses their smartphones to make calls anymore, eh?

Bottom line: The third-generation Note is an improvement over its predecessors thanks to a more useful stylus and a longer-lasting battery.

When Google picked LG to produce the Nexus 4, heads and eyebrows were raised, but when it launched, no one could doubt that the duo had pulled off something special. For the Nexus 5, Google raised the price to $349, but for a little extra cash, you're getting one of the finest flagships for a mid-range price. Since it's a Nexus device, users are entitled to the latest and greatest version of Android whenever it's out. And, despite the low price, you're getting speedy internals and good-quality hardware. Just be prepared for some weak battery life and poor roaming options. Otherwise, we suggest you buy it contract-free, with just a prepaid SIM plan, and don't look back. Your wallet will thank you for it.

Bottom line: We're baffled as to why more people don't just buy Nexus phones over all others. After all, you're getting a flagship smartphone for $350.

We've noted that a lot of Android device makers like to release a handset, like the Galaxy S 4, and then release a smaller, more pocket-friendly version shortly afterward. Unfortunately, cramming the same technology down into a tighter package causes a raft of compromises, sending prospective buyers scurrying back to the full-size edition. Sony, however, decided that it would try and produce the Xperia Z1 Compact, a shrunken down, 4.3-inch version of the original Xperia Z1, which has a 5-inch screen. The only differences of note are that the display now has 720p resolution, instead of 1080p, and the battery capacity has dropped by 700mAh due to the hardware's reduced dimensions. If you're interested in a top-tier waterproof smartphone, but don't fancy carrying around a device that can double as a table tennis bat, the Z1 Compact is absolutely worth investigating.

Bottom line: Sony's struggled to sell its Xperia handsets in the past, but this one deserves to be a hit, thanks to its 20.7-megapixel camera, great build quality and blistering performance. Oh, and it's waterproof, so if you like dunking your phone in your friend's drinks, this one's for you.

The partnership between Motorola and Google may have only produced two handsets, but the ones we got were special. Aimed squarely at the lower end of the market, the Moto G is the rare beast that doesn't feel like it costs just $180. It can beat the HTC One mini and Galaxy S4 Mini in the benchmark stakes; it features a solid camera; and the 4.5-inch display is actually quite fantastic. If you're not dead-set on LTE or carrying around a big music collection, but want a quick and up-to-date Android smartphone, then this is the device you should be ordering.

Bottom line: If you want a Google handset, but can't stretch to a Nexus 5, then the Moto G is your next best option. There's no LTE, no expandable storage and the camera's just OK, but for this price, who cares?

iOS

You know the deal by now. Apple's flagship iPhone 5s is the best iPhone ever made, thanks to improvements both inside and outside. Though it remains dwarfed in size by many rival phones, it benefits from Touch ID, an easy-to-use fingerprint scanner built right into the home button. Then there's the future-proof A7 chip, which offers fast 64-bit performance. Add in iOS 7, with its stark new design, and you've got a seventh-generation iPhone that still manages to look and feel new.

Bottom line: The best iPhone yet, and among the top smartphones, period. However, if you already own an iPhone 5, you're probably better off waiting for the 6, as nothing here really justifies the early upgrade fee.

Apple's middle child is the iPhone 5c, which is basically 2012's iPhone 5 with a plastic shell. That switch means you'll now be able to buy the phone in a variety of bright, Lumia-esque colors, but in every other respect, it's the same phone that came out in 2012. So, you'll sacrifice the headline-grabbing features you'd otherwise get with the 5s, like the aluminum shell and fingerprint recognition, but if your wallet won't stretch the extra $100 to get the higher-end model, this is a fine choice.

Bottom line: For $100 less than the iPhone 5s, it's 2012's best phone in a choice of fun colors.

It's a testament to the iPhone 4s that Apple can still sell it as an entry-level device more than two years after it first went on sale. Of course, it's missing a few key specs that early adopters will be lusting after -- namely, it rocks a smaller 3.5-inch display, and makes do with a slower chip and 3G-only data. That said, it still has a fantastic camera and that 3.5-inch display is at least Retina-quality. More importantly, the phone will still run iOS 7, so you won't feel too behind your friends on more modern hardware. Of course, you're not eligible for every new iOS feature, and there's no guarantee your handset will be supported in a year's time. Still, for a free-on-contract offering, it's tremendously compelling.

Bottom line: Despite being more than two years old, the iPhone 4s can still hold its own with brand-new budget models from its rivals -- and it's a steal if you can get it for free. Speed freaks and LTE fans won't be interested, but it'll beat plenty of other smartphones you can get for nothing.

Windows Phone

A handset that exists in the corridor of uncertainty between a phone and a tablet, Nokia's Lumia 1520 is the company's first attempt at a 6-inch device to rival the Galaxy Note. With the first 1080p display on a Windows Phone device, as well as a Snapdragon 800 processor, the 1520 offers plenty to love. Pairing this massive device with a 20-megapixel PureView module puts most other devices to shame, and it's even reasonably comfortable in a pocket -- assuming you're not wearing skinny jeans, anyway. If you're a Verizon customer and feel left out, then the Icon, which combines similar internals with a 5-inch display, could be right up your street.

Bottom line: It's too early to tell if Windows Phone 8 will flourish on a massive device that sits between a fully fledged tablet and a smartphone, but nonetheless, this stands as the best Windows Phone device we've ever seen.

When Nokia announced the "experimental" 808 PureView, it set the hearts of gadget fiends afire. The device came with a 41-megapixel sensor and some clever number-crunching that gave your photos much greater depth and clarity. Best of all, you could even zoom into them to a much greater level, finally bringing a CSI-style "enhance" to your images. The common consensus was that as soon as Nokia could put that 41-megapixel sensor onto a regular Windows Phone device, people would start paying attention to the platform. Well, that phone has arrived: The Lumia 1020 combines staggering imaging technology with Windows Phone's user-friendly interface. Moreover, now that Microsoft and Nokia are filling the holes in Windows Phone's app catalog, a flagship like the 1020 is more appealing than ever.

Bottom line: If you want to take amazing images with a smartphone, this is the device you need.

When it comes to Windows Phone devices, Nokia's (and Microsoft's) strategy has been easy to understand, if a bit scattergun. Produce a high-powered phone, and then whittle out features to produce sequentially cheaper versions from the 925 all the way down to the 520. The company adopted a similar approach to 6-inch units, with the 1520 acting as the "flagship," and the 1320 being a cheaper, lower-powered version for the masses. It keeps the large display and battery, but ditches the PureView camera, large internal storage and high-power internals. That said, if you're actively seeking out a phone/tablet hybrid, but aren't thrilled at spending the thick end of $800, this is probably your first port of call.

Bottom line: Despite its size, this 6-inch device isn't an all-powerful phablet -- it's more like the Lumia 620 after a bout of elephantiasis. If you want a big phone without a big price tag, however, this is probably where you'll end up.

Nokia's Lumia 520 (and 521) are the Windows Phone handsets that lurk at the very bottom of the company's bargain basement. In fact, this handset is so cheap, it's often handed out as a sweetener when you buy other Microsoft products. The price, combined with the user-friendliness of Windows Phone 8, makes it a pretty easy purchase for smartphone virgins. On the downside, the handset doesn't have much going for it in the spec department -- with a weak display, OK-ish camera and a short battery life. If, however, the purse strings are tight and you're only browsing Twitter, then this is a reasonably safe bet.

Bottom line: It's cheap to the point of being free, and while it may not be the greatest phone out there, Nokia has always known how to knock out a solid device for those on a budget. Take advantage of the right deal, and you'll even be able to grab one of these for free as a party favor.

BlackBerry 10

The Z30 is, in our opinion, the best BlackBerry 10 device on the market. Thanks to the handset's 5-inch display, BB10 suddenly feels much more comfortable than on the cramped Z10, and while it's still just a year old, the operating system at least feels mature now. Then there's the battery, which lasts more than a full day with intermittent usage and nearly 13 hours with nonstop use. Thankfully, the company has now moved to address the weak app selection -- BB10 will now install and run plenty of Android apps at the push of a button. If you're dead set on buying a touchscreen BlackBerry, this is the one that we'd recommend.

Bottom line: We doubt BlackBerry virgins will find anything to convince them to buy this device, but enthusiasts will find plenty to like. The bigger display and better internals make for a more comfortable experience, but beware that the usual BlackBerry issues remain.

Who can count themselves among BlackBerry devotees? Security fans and those for whom only a real QWERTY input will do. The Q10 is the only BlackBerry 10 device with a keyboard that's worth getting. Combining BlackBerry 10's beefy operating system with smooth, but imperfect performance, the real star of the show here is that comfortable and easy-to-use QWERTY layout. If you're eyeing the Q5, we'd suggest saving up a little more cash and going for its bigger brother; you'll get a significantly better handset for the money.

Bottom line: In a world where the physical keyboard is an endangered species, the Q10 is the only place you can turn to, so be glad that it's got the best of the old Bolds with a modern spin.